Loka Hatha Yoga

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Our blog has a new look and style! But don't worry: among our free books and free classes and other free resources, check out The Secret Knowledge of Yogaand The Logic of Buddhism, both of which have lots of your favorite and new sutras, shastras, puranas, lessons, and the "everything yoga" of our prior "incarnation" you loved.

Sacrificing time

"Sit and do nothing." If You were to sit, You would still be doing something. You are always in action. This You is your Self. To still your Karma, and control it, requires self-control, which is mastered through practice in Jnana and other forms of Yoga. Consequently, when sitting, it is beneficial to undertake some training and practice before attempting to do nothing. However, having obtained all necessary prerequisite skills and strength to sit and do nothing, it becomes possible to perform any other Asana selflessly. This selfless action is Karma Yoga.

It is by the requisite skills and strength of Karma Yoga that sacrifice becomes possible: training and practice in the sacrifice of self (becoming selfless) is foundational to training and practice in any form of sacrifice. A sacrifice of Time, by sitting and doing nothing, is difficult to accomplish.

There are many other benefits to this Asana: sitting and doing nothing is one of the most expedient means toward recovering strength of mind and body, and naturally results in awareness of Time, especially its effects of impermanence - and its nature of destruction, which is not unlike sacrificial fire. An understanding of Time permits a better understanding of Dharma. One who frequently sits and does nothing finds awareness of their Self, and their Dharma, easy. Their desire, ignorance and hatred are easily observed - as are the effects of these. All of their Karma can be understood - and as one might discover their body, and is subsequently able to learn self-control of their body, and mind, and consciousness, and self, merely developing awareness of Dharma founds the development of many other profound skills.

For example, it is possible when sitting and doing nothing to become acutely aware of all your other pressing duties, or to become aware of your own thoughts and feelings, your own inclination toward action. Understanding these as your own, you are able to see your Self.

Food burnt at the altar is not wasted, nor is a proper gift of food well given and refused wasted. Time spent in Yoga, even if it is only by sitting and doing nothing, is not wasted: rather, when it is understood You are part of this world, it is easy to see that doing nothing improves the entire world. As beings perform the sacrifice of food to sustain the Yogi's effort, Time may be sacrificed by the Yogi to bring an end to their Self, to being, to beings, to entire worlds, to all of Karma, even to the Dharma itself. Even to Time itself. For this is the meaning, the purpose, the use, the nature of Time.

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